Coalition for Economic Survival Calls for Restricting Airbnb in Rent Controlled Buildings in LA Times Article

From Immigration to Short-Term Housing to Street Vendors, L.A. City Hall Faces a Heavy Agenda

by Dakota Smith

Airbnb rules

The City Council is expected to finally pass a law to regulate short-term housing rentals.

Despite the widespread popularity of companies like Airbnb, it’s still illegal in much of Los Angeles to rent out a residence for less than 30 days at a time, according to planning department officials.

Airbnb critics argue home-sharing companies cannibalize rental housing and changes the character of neighborhoods by filling apartments with travelers.

Under the proposal being considered by the council, housing covered by the city’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance — believed to be about 80% of the city’s rental stock — couldn’t be rented out on home-sharing companies.

Larry Gross, executive director of the Coalition for Economic Survival, said home-sharing companies are hurting L.A.’s stock of affordable housing. “They must be restricted,” Gross said of Airbnb.